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Chris Croucher – producer of this year's most anticipated new ITV wartime drama The Halcyon – talks exclusively to Telegraph Travel about life after Downton, the trials of finding a hotel to film in and how Churchill got around rationing rules at London's grandest establishments.

Of all the possible settings for a new period ITV series, why a London hotel during the Second World War?

There have been a lot of Second World War dramas over the years. It’s always a question of how to tell the story from a new angle. A hotel gives so many opportunities for story and characters. There are the upper-class guests and the middle-class management. And then there is the lower-class staff behind the stage.

What I like with a hotel is that any point someone new can walk through the door and set the whole story in a new direction. Also, there is something interesting in the ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ mantra being taken to the max. How can you carry on five-star hotel treatment in the Blitz?!

Comparisons with Downton Abbey are inevitable. How is The Halcyon different?

Naturally, it seems that these days if a period show is set earlier than 1960 it will be called the ‘New Downton’.

I think that’s a testament to what we did on Downton – people miss it and are naturally looking for a replacement.

I do think The Halcyon has many differences though. It is a much faster paced show. It’s definitely sexier and I think the music really gives it a different edge.

Downton finished its story in 1926 – this is 1940. The world has changed and is changing evermore everyday.

A bomb can drop any minute so you have to kiss those you love, dance with everyone and then sleep with who you want to, party hard and then keep calm and carry on.

If enough people tune in and like the show then hopefully. This series is only 1940 – there is so much more war to go and many great stories to tell.

During your research, did you find out anything that really surprised you?

Lots. I didn’t know there were rationing waivers for hotels and restaurants for the first part of the war. This was so Churchill and his chums could still dine well.

Also hotels would sell off the top-floor rooms cheaper as they were more likely to be damaged by the bombs!

How did you go about researching The Halcyon?

The archivist at The Savoy has been a real help. We have also read transcripts from guests. The good thing about the Second World war research is there has been just so much written about it. We also toured around all the hotels still standing now – many haven’t really changed that much since the war.

Research is key with any script and we have a full-time historic researcher Kerry (who actually has also worked in the hotel trade). She works with our script editors and writers to make sure everything is right. Within reason – you sometimes have to bend for dramatic purposes).

Also from the research you can get great anecdotes or historic moments that we can try and use in the scripts.

The Savoy in London was a big inspiration for HalcyonCredit:
Alamy/StockFood GmbH - travel / Alamy Stock Photo

In the first episode, you get a real sense of the grand hotel being something both sumptuous and seedy. Can we expect more scandal in coming episodes?

From the research one of the main things you find is the scandal! It’s amazing what was going on and yes, you can expect lots more in the coming episodes.

You filmed in a studio, but was filming in a hotel ever floated as an idea?

It was floated. We scouted lots of hotels. Closed-down ones because you can’t film in a real open hotel; four months of a film crew would kill any hotel trade I am sure! In the end it came down to the simple fact that you might find a good foyer, and a good bar but not the back offices, no kitchen and so on. We wanted so much in one place that was too hard to find. In the end the hotel is made up of four main London locations and one very large set.

There are hints that spies and political intrigue could feature in coming episodes. Were you inspired by some of the more notorious stories associated with London hotels – like Stella Lonsdale and Guy Burgess?

Not necessarily those particular stories but it’s amazing how much espionage went on in London hotels. I suppose if you have a building where London’s top politicians are dining, and partying and it's also a place where the rich and famous sleep (not always with who they should be) – where better a place to spy?!

The Art Deco elements of the set are fantastic. Were you inspired by any particular hotels? How did you go about researching the set and sourcing props to 'get it right'?

The Halcyon Hotel’s backstory is that it was built in 1890 (hence the 50th anniversary party in the first episode). But it was then, like so many London Hotels, revamped in the Twenties. Hence the Art Deco elements, but the back of house is still quite Victorian in places. You don’t spend money doing up the back of house because the guests don’t see it.

Our production designer Matthew Gant and his team did months of research. They went to all the top London hotels and also looked into grand hotels in Europe. He had a team of buyers out for months scouring every antiques market and prop house to get what we needed.

Also a lot of what you see in terms of props and furniture has been custom made for the show. Matt and has team have truly excelled, they literally created a five-storey hotel in 12 weeks.

Do you have a favourite Halcyon character?

There are too many to have a favourite – that is what is great about an ensemble cast.

The hotel manager is an intriguing character. How would you describe him?

Garland is indeed is a very intriguing character, I would say he is part of the property itself: the smooth, silent engine of the hotel, unwavering in his sense of duty and responsibility. But don’t be fooled, behind this calm façade lies a man not afraid to get his hands dirty.

Are any of the characters inspired by real people from the period?

Loosely yes. Joe O’Hara has elements of Edward Murrow and Charity does have a whiff of the Mitford sisters about her.

Do you have a favourite London hotel?

The Savoy.

What has been your most memorable experience (good or bad) in a hotel?

I couldn’t possibly tell the good stories or the bad …. my mother might read this.